Flood Barrier USA

Floods Strike Around the World in July 2012

Author: Donna Conneely

July 2012 was a month that will not be soon forgotten in many places around the world. During this month severe floods devastated communities from New Orleans to Bejing. It appears that Bejing suffered the worst of the floods; in this city at least 37 people lost their lives. In the rural and suburban areas outside Bejing, many more people died in flooding that is said to be the worst in more than 60 years.

Survivors of the flooding in Bejing had scarcely recovered from the shock and terror of the floods before their emotions turned to anger. There have been many accusations of government incompetence and failure of infrastructure that could have saved lives. There was no warning of impending flooding, although the record-smashing rainfall was obviously about to overwhelm flood-control provisions. Many voices are criticizing builders and government inspectors for failure to plan for floods appropriately by including flood protection barriers and run-off causeways.

In New Orleans, timely flood warnings were disseminated to the community, and residents in low-lying areas were prepared for the inundation. Even so, many people had to be rescued from flooded cars and there were many close calls, although no deaths have been reported. Power outages were widespread, and many homes and businesses were damaged by the raging waters.

The state of Georgia was also impacted by huge storms and flooding, as were many parts of the northeast USA. Some streets in Atlanta flooded during rush hour, causing massive traffic jams as cars stalled in the rising water. Several drivers reported that they felt they could drive through the high water, only to find that their cars stalled and left them trapped in deep water. Some had to wade chest-deep, against dangerous currents that could have swept them off their feet.

Floods also wreaked destruction throughout England, with rivers and waterways swollen and breaching banks in many areas. Some towns were completely submerged, with many narrow escapes reported. Half a million properties throughout the nation were identified as being at risk of flooding during this incredibly rainy period, marked by “freak” storms, unheard-of rainfall levels, and widespread flooding.

Many regions of England and Wales received in a few hours the normal rainfall for a whole month. This much water, this fast, created raging flash floods that swept through quiet valleys and devastated sleepy riverside towns with frightening speed and power. Some areas were plagued by almost two feet of rainfall within the space of a few hours. Because England has recently been pounded by higher than normal rainfall, waterways are already swollen, the ground is saturated, and run-off ditches are overtaxed.

Each year seems to bring more frequent and more damaging floods around the world. The month of July 2012 may set records for floods and storm damage in many areas, but these records are not likely to stand long. The 60 year record broken in Bejing may well be broken again in the next couple of years. As residents there clamor for better infrastructure and flood-control planning, lessons may well be applied to countless other communities in flood-prone regions. Flood protection measures always work best when applied before the flood strikes.

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 26th, 2012 at 10:13 pm and is filed under Flood Protection. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.